Calorimetric method for adjusting the mass of culture fluid in a bioreactor

Abstract

A new calorimetric method for adjusting the mass of culture fluid in a bioreactor and the results of its experimental testing are described. The method is based on constant heat capacity of liquids in the presence of disturbing factors accompanying biotechnology processes. A new measuring parameter independent of thermal noise induced by the stirrer, the flow of fluids, chemical and physical interactions of substances in the bioreactor was used for adjusting the mass of culture fluid. This parameter is Ph, the power increment in the heater under steady-state conditions of heating the bioreactor. The scanning calorimetry principle was used to make the measurements. It was shown that it is necessary to provide a constant heating rate V for the bioreactor and a high-speed response of the automated control system (ACS) for bioreactor temperature. The ACS developed on the base of the dynamic error and transient response h(t) calculated by the inverse Laplace transform with the use of the closed-loop transfer function gives V=const and the control time of about several seconds. The experimental data reported show the adjustment of the mass of culture fluid in a 3 l bioreactor with an error of no more than 10 g. This enables an accurate evaluation of the biomass amount in the bioreactor, specific growth rate, and other growth parameters determined using specific growth rate.